Inline Skates

Contents [Hide] 1 Skate Style and Types 2 Sizing 3 Cost 4 Skate Construction 5 External Links

Inline skating, or "rollerblading" as it is popularly called, involves skates with five to two wheels aligned in a row.  Many people skate just for fun, but there are many different types for many different activities. Below we will guide you through what you need to know when you are buying skates.  Whether you're new to the club or buying replacements, this guide will help you through the decision making process. Don't forget that you need some pads and a helmet for your protection!

Skate Style and Types

Before anything, decide how you want to use your skates--whether you goal is for recreation, transportation, competition, sport, cross-training, or general fitness. Here are some suggestions based on how you might plan to skate, from basic recreational skates to specialized skates for hockey or doing tricks.

Recreational  Entry Level: For beginners and the occasional skater, a basic, inexpensive pair of recreational skates  will suit you fine. You need not spend lots of money on features that won't be worth it, especially since some features are destined for the pro who has enhanced strengths and abilities. Some good recreational skates, to give you an idea of what you should be aiming at, are the following: Children's inline skates  are great for the young prodigies. Rollerblade  has a lot of adult size skates for around $100. Typically a hard outer frame with a soft boot that maximizes comfort and durability. Uses four 70-80 mm wheels. Higher-grade skates can come with larger wheels to allow for faster skating. You will notice that these skates come standard with a brake system.

Rollerblade Recreational Skates	K2 Recreational Skates	Roces Recreation Skates	Luigino Recreational Skates	Roller Derby Recreational Skates

Fitness  Mid-Range: For those interested in using inline skating as part of their fitness regimen or for transport, durability and comfort should be your two major concerns. Choose a stiff boot that will last; this means that labels such as cross-training  or fitness skates  are good bets. Here are some quick options to check out, priced low to high and starting at $100: The Rollerblade Racemachine  is a lightweight skate that allows a wide range of movement because of its low-top style. Astro  skates come in models both for men and women. They are good for all levels and have a breathable mesh inner boot for comfort and a sturdy aluminum frame that is built to last. You will notice that these skates are designed the same as recreational skates. They have the same wheel formation, the same type of closure, and even a brake. The difference between these skates and recreational skates is mainly that fitness skates have larger wheels and better bearings so that you can go faster.

Rollerblade Marathon Carbon  This inline skate features an ultralight design with a carbon shell and top of the line components. Carbons have cutting edge bearing technology.	K2 Radical 90  This skate is designed for expereinced skaters who love speed. Designed for stability at the speeds generated by 90mm wheels and ILQ-9 bearings.	Rollerblade Speedmachine 110  Rollerblade Speedmachine 110s are ideal for marathons and long training sessions. 110 mm wheels for maximum speed and power transmission.

Hockey  Sports: If you are into playing hockey, or if you are buying for a child into hockey, make sure that you get inline hockey skates.  They are designed slightly differently, with a tighter wheel arrangement and a soft, yet supportive body for absorbing shock and allowing for flexibility. Here are some examples: The CCM Vector Youth Skates  are for little hockey players dreaming of becoming stars. Nike Bauer Supreme Tempo Jr.  is for kids just starting out who may or may not pursue inline hockey for more than a few seasons. For those wearing adult size skates who are willing to spend some cash, check out the Mission Lieutenant Sr.  or the Mission Commander Black Sr.  Durable, leather uppers and significant padding make for good protection. Closure system almost always uses laces. Larger wheels in back and smaller wheels in front are for control, and tapered wheels give better stability turning. No braking system.

Mission Boss Sr. Inline Hockey Skates  This advanced inline hockey skate has a magnesium alloy chassis, a carbon fiber outsole, and hydrophobic liner to whick away moisture.	CCM Vector 6.0 Sr. Inline Hockey Skates  With Abec 7 bearings, Rink Rat Hot Shot wheels, and a chassis of extruded aluminum, this skate is a great value buy.	Nike Bauer Vapor XXVR Lite Sr. Inline Hockey Skates  This is a solid, reliable inline hockey skate for under 100 bucks.

Aggressive  Trick Skates: Those who grind, do railslides, or other tricks need a specialized skate, typically referred to as an aggressive  or street skate.  Here are a few examples: Solidly designed for rails, stunts, jumps, ramps, and half pipes. They come with smaller, harder wheels that are more maneuverable and durable. Wheels are around 55-67 mm. Grind plates are a major feature to look for.

TRS A7 Kids Aggressive Skates  This is a very solid entry level aggressive skate for the youth skater.	Razors Genesys Kids Aggressive Skates  The skates are adjustible from size 3 to 6 without compromising sturdyness and performance.	Corr Works Z4 Aggressive Skates  These adult size aggressive inline skates are a great value.	Rollerblade DT5 Aggressive Skates  The DT5 meets the demands of the serious freestyle roller without breaking the bank. Memory foam inserts are in key areas and there is a Super-Lock groove for sweet grinds.

Speed  Pro Skates: The unique design of these skates make them sleek and aerodynamic, perfect for generating and maintaining high speeds. Lighter and more minimalist in design, specifically for speed skating. They have longer frames and larger wheels. You might notice the very low neck on the ankle, designed to give you maximum flexibility. Thin wheels and no brakes means you better be good before you get on these.

Bont Inline Speed Skates	Hyper Inline Speed Skates	Luigino Inline Speed Skates

Sizing

Manufacturers

Genesys  GTS  K2  Mission  Salomon  Razor  Remz  Rollerblade  Roces  RTX  Tour  TRS

Getting the right fit can be hard if you order online, but it is less expensive. Your best bet is to try skates on in a store and then get your savings online--just do the salesperson a favor and don't go spending two hours trying on every pair just to tell him or her, thanks, but you're buying online.

When trying skates on you should be able to wiggle your toes just slightly with your heels against the back of the skate. If your feet feel like they are floating or if your toes hit the front of the skate, you need a different size. You want them to be snug, but not pinching or chaffing. Move around a bit, re-tighten the skates and move around some more. Keep in mind that most of the skates in stores will be of the recreational type, not speed or trick skates.

• For guys with big feet, try the Lotus Recreational Inline Skate. 
• For semi-pro kids, try Tour 800 4wheel  skates for youths.

Cost

There is nothing like a blister or strained ankle to deter you from skating, and the less pain you get from your skates, the more likely you will be to use them. Anything around $100-$120 is usually a safe choice for the recreational skater who wants good quality skates. However, if you look for skates that are on sale or clearance, you can get skates of the same quality for a discounted price.

Don't forget to add on the costs of safety gear, such as helmets,  wrist guards,  elbow pads,  and knee pads,  especially for trick skaters, beginners, and young children. Expect to spend about $100 -$150 for extra equipment, if you don't own any.

Skate Construction

There are two types of inline skates to choose from, either hard shell or soft boot. The hard shell construction consists of molded plastic so they look similar to a ski boot. The lower half covers and protects the foot, while the upper half wraps around and supports the ankle. The two halves are connected with a hinge system that allows the ankle and boot to flex forward naturally. The uppers on recreational skates are usually made from synthetic materials, while hockey skates are usually made of leather composites. As for soft boots, they are made with an external (and sometimes internal) plastic cuff to provide support, like a hiking boot. They provide a good fit and performance, plus they are very breathable and lightweight, and they are generally secured by laces.  You might hear talk about frames, which are what hold skate components in place. Most recreational frames are made of aluminum, nylon, or fiberglass composites. While metal frames are stiffer, faster, and lighter, they are also more pricey. Finally, make sure the skates frames are compatible with the way you plan on using them.

Here are some of the replaceable parts on a skate.

Wheels  Usually made of polyurethane. Typical wheel diameters are from 70-80 mm, with larger wheels enhancing speed and smaller wheels being designed more for maneuverability. Softer wheels are good for winter and provide a softer ride. Harder wheels are better in the summer when hot weather causes the wheels to soften.	Brakes  The most common form of braking system is a pad or cylinder on the rear wheel that stops movement by applying pressure on the heel. Hockey skates and speed skates normally do not include braking systems.	Bearings  Bearings are the seven or eight balls at the center of each wheel that allow the wheel to spin. Each has an ABEC rating (ABEC-1,  ABEC-3,  ABEC-5 ) indicating their precision. Higher ratings equal better performance and speed. Serviceable bearings have a metal shield with a removable "C" ring, or a plastic/rubber removable shield that must be taken apart and lubricated. Non-serviceable bearings have a metal shield that protects them. These only need to be wiped off with a clean cloth.	Closures  There are two primary forms of closure systems on inline skates. Buckles are mostly found on recreational skates, and are the quickest to put on and take off. Laces are less expensive than buckle closures, offer a uniform closing, and allow for more adjustment variations.

Related Products
Inline Skating	Helmets	Skater Padding	Ice Skates

External Links

• LondonSkaters.com: While slightly outdated, these user reviews talk about very popular brands and might be useful for people in the market for buying skates who want to learn more about the manufacturers.
• SkateFAQ.com: A buyer's guide with details about skate.